<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div>Cliff,</div><div>the sled idea might be messy, as you would need to transfer to the sled in</div><div>relatively shallow water & transition from a buoyant state to a neutral state</div><div>on to the platform with wave motion throwing you about. Even if it was dead</div><div>calm launching, you couldn't rely on it being that way when you came up.</div><div>It could be dangerous for the support person manoeuvring the sub on to</div><div>the platform. </div><div>To me launching the R500 is going to be a big issue. I found I couldn't launch</div><div>my little 360 kg sub in a local lake & have to travel 3 & 1/2 hrs to get into</div><div>some fresh water diving. </div><div>Cheers Alan<br><br>Sent from my iPad</div><div><br>On 25/07/2014, at 1:14 am, Cliff Redus via Personal_Submersibles <<a href="mailto:personal_submersibles@psubs.org">personal_submersibles@psubs.org</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div><div style="color:#000; background-color:#fff; font-family:HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;font-size:12pt"><div><span></span></div><div></div><div> </div><div>Hank,</div><div><br></div><div>You have hit my key issues with tracks integrated into boat. I will add one more. You are adding a lot of weight/cost/complexity for some thing that is used only on launch and retrieval.</div><div><br>Maybe I should use the big DC traction motor I am taking out of the <br>R300 as well as the motor controller and old joystick and build a submersible powered tracked launch and retrieval sled. Support diver drives the sled with the R500, pilot onboard, off a flatbed trailer on to the beach, and out far enough to lift the R500 off the sled. Reverse process on retrieval. Could use it to launch off both beach sand and conventional ramp. Add enough batteries to
make the sled negatively buoyant when the R500 lifts off the sled.</div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; background-color: transparent;"><br></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; background-color: transparent;">Could work.<br><br></div><div>Cliff</div><div><br></div> <div style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <div style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <div dir="ltr"> <div class="hr" style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-image: none; height: 0px; line-height: 0; font-size: 0px;" contenteditable="false" readonly="true"></div> <font face="Arial" size="2"> <b><span style="font-weight: bold;">From:</span></b> hank pronk via Personal_Submersibles <<a href="mailto:personal_submersibles@psubs.org">personal_submersibles@psubs.org</a>><br> <b><span style="font-weight: bold;">To:</span></b> Personal Submersibles General Discussion <<a href="mailto:personal_submersibles@psubs.org">personal_submersibles@psubs.org</a>> <br> <b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sent:</span></b> Thursday, July 24, 2014 6:51 AM<br> <b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Subject:</span></b> [PSUBS-MAILIST] trackdrive<br> </font> </div> <div class="y_msg_container"><br><div id="yiv4724867298"><div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><div>Alan,</div><div>The fellow that helps me test and dive my subs is a huge fan of tracks on a sub. We debate this for hrs after a big struggle at a lake trying to launch.
This idea would be the ultimate system. The problem is, if it were electric, the power consumption would be huge and put a big drain on your batteries. I figured the only way to do it would be with a gas motor hyd power pack. Hook up the quick connectors to launch, then disconnect. The next problem is, tracks, even rubber, are very heavy. The setup could weigh 1,000 lb easily if it is carrying a sub. Then there is the cost, think big! :-) It would be the ultimate though!</div><div>Hank</div></div></div></div><br>_______________________________________________<br>Personal_Submersibles mailing list<br><a href="mailto:Personal_Submersibles@psubs.org" ymailto="mailto:Personal_Submersibles@psubs.org">Personal_Submersibles@psubs.org</a><br><a href="http://www.psubs.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/personal_submersibles" target="_blank">http://www.psubs.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/personal_submersibles</a><br><br><br></div> </div> </div> </div></div></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><div><span>_______________________________________________</span><br><span>Personal_Submersibles mailing list</span><br><span><a href="mailto:Personal_Submersibles@psubs.org">Personal_Submersibles@psubs.org</a></span><br><span><a href="http://www.psubs.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/personal_submersibles">http://www.psubs.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/personal_submersibles</a></span><br></div></blockquote></body></html>